Vehicle ventilation apparatus



VEHICLE VENTILATION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet EINVENTOR. filfrai 77. ll iyferiz.

ATTORNEYfi MayZS, 1940. A. R. LINTERN 4 VEHICLE VENT ILATION APPARATUSFiled NOV. 20, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYfiy 28, 1940- A. R. LINTERN 2,202,703

VEHICLE VENTILATION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 44 lD Q.

A35 INVENTOR.

fllfrea K123222772.

' ATTORNEYS,

fiatented May 28 1940 PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE VENTILATION APPARATUS AlfredB. Lintern, Detroit, Mich assignor to Evans Products Company, Detroit,Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application November 20, 1936, SerialNo. 111,786

6 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicle body ventilating apparatus; and inparticular, relates to apparatus for ventilating the interior of closedpassenger vehicles.

Objects of the invention are to provide improved ventilating structuresby which air injected into the passenger compartment may be moreeffectively and efiiciently distributed; to provide a simplifiedventilating structure which takes up a minimum of space and mayconveniently be built into conventional types of vehicle bodies with aminimum of alterations; to provide an improved ventilating structure bywhich adequate fresh air is present in the pas senger compartment of thevehicle and frosting on the windshield and windows is prevented in coldweather; to provide an improved means for directing the flow of air intothe passenger compartment of the vehicle with a minimum of draft; toprovide a simplified structure for forming air ducts in which the outerroof panel of the vehicle cooperates with unitary members to form airinjector and ejector ducts; and to provide a simplified and economicalvehicle ventilating structure which is attractive in appearance.

Other objects'of the invention will become apparent from the followingspecification, the drawingsrelating thereto, and from. the claimshereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, in which like numerals are used to designate like partsin the several views throughout:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a vehicle embodying features of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial front elevational view with parts broken away of thevehicle illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial transverse view showing the interior of thepassenger compartment of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1,- diagrammaticallyillustrating the direction of the air currents within Fig. 10 is across-sectional view taken substantially along the line l0lll of Fig. 9;and

Fig. 11 is a view taken substantially in the direction of the arrowslI-Il of Fig. 10.

The present invention relates to improvements over the structure shownin United States Letters Patent No. 1,969,934 granted August 14, 1934,to William Lintern and Alfred R. Lintern and the structure shown in theUnited States Letters Patent No. 2,036,485 granted April '7, 1936, toWilliam Lintern and Alfred R. Lintern. In the patents referred to,structures are disclosed in which air is injected into the body of avehicle and ejected from the body for the purpose of maintaining theinterior of the body in a properly ventilated condition.

The present invention is particularly directed to a simplified structurefor forming the injector and ejector ducts or chambers in the closedpassenger type of vehicles.

According to the present invention, an injector opening, or openings, isprovided immediately above the windshield, and ejector openings areprovided in the outer roof panel of the vehicle in a position above thewindshield and adjacent the front of the vehicle top. Intake and exhaustchambers communicating with the injector and ejector openingsrespectively, are formed in the vehicle roof in a simplified manner. Theexhaust chamber is preferably formed by a sheet metal pan member whichextends longitudinally of the vehicle substantially co -extensive withthe upper roof portion in cooperation with the outer roof panel. Theintake chamber is preferably formed of a single sheet metal memberhaving side portions which extend longitudinally of the vehicle adjacentthe side portions of the roof and cooperate with the outer roof panel toform the chamber. Openings communicating with the passenger compartmentof the vehicle are provided in the two .members communicating with thefront and rear portions of the passenger compartment for proper andadequate air distribution. Means are also provided in association withthese openings to diffuse the air injected into the vehicle so thatobjectionable drafts are eliminated.

: Also, according to the present invention, for

cold weather operation when the passenger compartment is completelyenclosed, means are provided for directing a portion of the injected airagainst the rear surface of the windshield to prevent frosting thereon.This air may be injected in such small quantities that the passengercompartment is not chilled, but sufficient air is superably providedover the openings 22.

plied to prevent the formation of moisture on the windshield with theconsequent frosting which creates dangerous driving conditions.

For a. better understanding of the invention, reference may be had tothe accompanying drawings in which a preferred structure is illustrated,and in which in Fig. 1 a passenger automobile 12 of the closed type isillustrated embodying features of the present invention. The automobilel2 includes a conventional front windshield M and a conventional roofhaving a curved outer roof panel it.

The outer roof panel 56 extends forwardly of the front windshieldadjacent the front edge l8 and is provided with a transverse opening 23,or openings, providing an injector or intake opening for air. The air asit passes upwardly over the windshield is caught by the forwardlyextending edge 18 of the outer roof panel and is caused to pass into thevehicle through the opening 20.

A plurality of ejector openings 22 are provided through the outer roofpanel transversely thereof above the windshield and adjacent the forwardedge of the outer roof panel. Louvres 2 are pref- As disclosed in theabove referred to patents, and as disclosed in the United States LettersPatent No. 1,862,058 granted JuneU, 1932, to William Lintern, theopenings 22 are located in such a position relative to the vehicle roofthat a low pressure is created immediately above the openings causingejection of air from the interior of the passenger vehicle.

In order to provide an exhaust chamber in communication with the exhaustopenings 22, a unitary pan member 2t, which is preferably substantiallyrectangular in shape, is provided hav ing a bottom 28 and upstandingsides Eli, S2, 33, and 3 5. Elongated resilient members 35 have portionswhich embrace the upper edges of the side members and are adapted toresiliently engage the inner surface of the outer panel member it aroundthe periphery of the pan member 26 to provide an air-tight seal for theexhaust chamber. The pan member 26 extends longitudinally of the roof ofthe vehicle substantially co-extensiive with the top portion of theroof; and the bottom and sides of the pan member are preferably curvedcomplementary in shape to the curvature of the roof so that a sealed fitis effected.

A splash. screen 38 is provided adjacent the front edge of the panmember in spaced relation to the bottom of the pan member and extendstransversely thereof beneath the openings 22 so so that any waterentering the openings 22 is caught by the screen and will not enter thepas-- senger compartment. As shown in Fig. l, the front portion of thepan member 26 is curved downwardly so that any water within the exhaustchamber is collected at the forward edge of the pan member and may bedrained to the outside by means of a tubular member h (Fig. 2).

The pan member 26 is supported and held in place relative to the roof bymeans of a transversely extending corrugated bracket member 42 suitablysecured to the longitudinally extend-- ing lintel members it at thesides of the vehicle. The pan member may be spot welded to the bracketmember 42 or otherwise suitably secured thereto.

For communicating the exhaust chamber with the passenger compartment ofthe vehicle, two pairs of transversely.extending openings l i, d5,

46, and ll are provided through the bottom 28. The openings 4 and 45 areintermediate the ends of the pan member so that these openingscommunicate with the forward portion of the passenger compartment; andthe openings. 48

and ll are located adjacent the rear of the pan member so that theseopenings communicate with the rear portion of the passengercompartspecific embodiment understood that this number of openings maybe varied within the scope of the present invention and that theparticular number shown is merely by way of illustration.

Grill members t8 are preferably provided over the openings it, '45, 46,and ll respectively, on the interior of the vehicle, the grill members48 having openings 49 therethrough in alignment with the openings intothe exhaust chamber for communicating the exhaust chamber with thepassenger compartment. Suitable control means are also provided foradjustably controlling the flow of air through the openings and theparticular type of control mechanism will hereinafter be described indetail. y

For the purpose of controlling the direction of flow and distribution ofthe fresh air injected into the vehicle through the opening 2i], 2.uni-j tary sheet metal member 5% of a shape defined by edges ill, 52,53, 54, 55, 56, 51, and 58 in Fig. l, is provided and mounted within theroof of the vehicle in the manner to be described in detail. Those edgesof the sheet metal member connecting the edges 54 and 55 and 56respectively, are indicated at 59 in Fig. 8. g r

The front edge 55 of the member 5b is suitably secured to the upperframe structure til ofthe vehicle transversely of the openings 29; andthe side edges 59 of the member 58 are suitably secured to thelongitudinally extending lintel members 34. The edges 5!, 52, thegreater por-- tion of 53, 58, and the greater portion of 5! are suitablysecured to the under surface of the bottom 25 of the pan member 26, andthe remaining portions of the edges of the member Ell are suitablysecured to the upper roof panel. nections between the edges of themember 551 and the vehicle body and pan member are substantiallyair-tight so that the space between-the member 58 and the roof panel isseparated from the interior of the vehicle and air cannot penetrate intothe passenger compartment except .by

the control means which are to be described hereinafter. r

with the other members above described forms an air injector chamberhaving a transverse front portion in communication with the injectorwardly and outwardly as indicated in Figs. 4 and 8. The side portions fil may be curved as indicated in Fig. 8 so that the usual interior appearance of the vehicle is not disturbed. v

Longitudinally extending openings 66, 6?,"68, andiifl are providedthrough the sideportions 64 of the member all for-communicating theinjector Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 4, andB, it can be seen thatthe member 5!) in its associationor intake openings with the passengercompartment. In the embodiment illustrated, two spaced openings areprovided at each side of the vehicle so that air introduced into theinterior of the vehicle may be properly distributed, but it is to beunderstood that this number may be varied as desired within the scope ofthe present invention.

Grill members I0 having openings 12 therethrough in alignment with theopenings 66, 61, 68, and 69 respectively, are provided; and transverselyextending fins I4 are provided across the opening 12 for the purpose ofdiffusing the air entering the passenger compartment and' thuspreventing objectionable drafts. Control means are also provided foradjustably controlling the direction and flow of air through theopenings I2, the particular type of control means illustrated is to bedescribed in detail hereinafter.

In order to break up the incoming stream of air into the intake chamber,transversely extending baiiles I0 and I8 are provided at the forwardportions of the member 50. The baffie member I6 may be suitably securedto the front edge of the bottom 28 of the pan member 26 and directeddownwardly; and the baffle I8 may be suitably secured to the member 62and directed upwardly in a rearwardly spaced position from the bafiie16. It can thus be seen that air entering the intake chamber is causedto strike against the baffles I6 and I8 and any moisture containedtherein will be separated therefrom and pre vented from entering thepassenger compartment.

Screen members 80 are also preferably mounted Within the intake opening20 to prevent the passage of foreign material into the intake chamber.In the modified structure shown in Fig. 6, air filtering and cleaningmeans 82 are also provided behind the screen 80 transversely of theopening 20 to clean the air entering the passenger compartment from anydust or other foreign material.

The general direction and flow of air entering the passenger compartmentand being exhausted therefrom is diagrammatically indicated by thearrows in Fig. 3. It can be seen from an inspection of this figure thatby having the intake openings in a plane below the exhaust openings andby having the intake openings directed downwardly and inwardly thatproper circulation of air within the passenger compartment is obtained.Thus the air is caused to circulate downwardly around the passengers anddoes not pass in a direct path from the intake openings to the exhaustopenings.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provision ofmeans to prevent frosting on the windshield and these means comprise theprovision of openings 84 through the member 62 preferably located behindthe baffle I8. Members 86 having upstanding sides 81 are secured to theunder surface of the member 50 adjacent the transverse member 62 andextend forwardly to a position immediately above and adjacent the rearof the windshield I4. The members 86 and 81 provide confining ductscommunicating with the intake chamber through the openings 84 and areprovided with openings 88 adjacent the front edges thereof. Shuttermembers 90 are hingeably secured to the rear edges of the openings 88for opening downwardly and directing the air passing through the ductsagainst the inner surface of the windshield. A spring member 92 issuitably secured to the front edge of each of the .doors 90 and to oneof the sidesB'I and tends to keep the door in a closed position. Thehinge 88 is of the frictional type so that the door 90 may be held inits open position against the action of the spring 92.

. During cold weather operation, by thus directing the current ofoutside air against the inner face of the windshield, the formation ofmoisture thereon is prevented and danger of frosting is avoided.

Means are provided for controlling the flow of air through the exhaustand intake openings into the passenger compartment and these meanscomprise, in general, upstanding plate, or shutter, members hingedlymounted above the openings into the passenger compartment with meansac.- cessible from the passenger compartment to adjustably position theshutters relative to the openings;

The detailed structure for controlling the flow of air into thepassenger compartment through the intake openings is particularly shownin Figs. 8 to 11 and reference may be had to these figures for thedetailed structure. Mounted within each of the openings 66, 61, 68, and69 and projecting therethrough into the intake chamber are two elongatedplate or shutter members I0! and I02. Each of the arms NH and I02 issuitably secured to the hinges I04 and I06 respectively, the hinges I04and I06 being flanged outwardly at I08 and III) respectively. Theportions I08 and H0 of the hinges are suitably secured, as by welding,for example, to the inner surface of the grill member I0 slightlyinwardly displaced from the edges of the opening 12. An opening H2 isprovided through the grill I0 at one end of the opening I2 and anupstanding bracket member I I4 is suitably secured to the inside face ofthe grill 10 adjacent the outermost side of the slot II2 preferablyoffset to one side of the transverse center of the opening 12. A thumbwheel H0 having transverse grooves around its periphery is rotatablymounted on the bracket member II4 by means of shaft I20. Referringparticularly to Fig. 10, it can be seen that with this construction andarrangement, the lower portion of the wheel projects to a slight extentthrough the slot H2 and is adapted to be engaged for rotation by one ofthe occupants of the vehicle.

A wire member I22 is rotatably secured to the wheel H6 adjacent theouter periphery thereof and is bent to form a crank arm I23 and thenbent inwardly as best shown in Fig. 11; and the are connected togetherby the cross portion I28. 7

The portions I24 and I26 are suitably pivotally connected to the upperends of members IUI and I02 adjacent one end thereof. It is evident thenthat upon rotation of the wheel I I6 that the wire member I22 causespivoting of the members IOI and I02 as indicated by the broken lines inFig. 10.

By tilting the members IOI and I02 in the direction desired, thedirection of the air entering the passenger vehicle through the openingI2 may be effectively controlled.

In order to adjustably hold the members IOI and I02 in the positiondesired, an elongated spring member I30 is suitably secured at one endto the rear face of the grill I0 and at its other end, resiliently bearsagainst the outer periphery of the wheel II8 as indicated inFigs. 10 and.11.. I

The members I-llI and I02 maybe tilted to the position desired, aspointed out above, to control the direction of flow of air into thepassenger compartment; or by still further rotation of the wheel, themembers I BI or I2 may be positioned to completely close the openings72. In Order to provide a tight seal for this opening, a member I32preferably of resilient material such as sponge rubber, is providedaround the edge of the opening 72 so that when in closed position, themember It! or I82 resiliently bears against this member I32 and sealsthe opening.

For controlling the flow of air outwardly through the exhaust openings,an operating means substantially the same as for the intake controlshutters is provided and by referring to Figs. 4 and '7, it can be seenthat single plate or shutter member )2 is used and is connected to thethumb wheel IIB by a wire member having a crank arm I23 adjacent theouter periphery of the wheel. The crank arm I23 is preferably pivotallyattached to the member I02 inwardly from the upper edge thereof.

In the structure for controlling the exhaust shutter E02, the wheel H5is rotatably mounted on an upstanding bracket member I34 which islocated at one end of the opening 49 substantially at the transversecenter of the opening. A spring 136 is suitably secured to the bottom 28of the pan member 26 and resiliently bears against the outer peripheryof the wheel IIB to hold it in its adjusted position.

By referring to Figs. 4 and 7, it can be seen that upon rotation of thewheel IIIS, the shutter plate I02 may be moved to a closed position toclose the opening 49 and resiliently bears against a resilient memberI32 to seal the opening.

It is evident from the above description and from the drawings that thecontrol shutters and the operating mechanism therefor are mounted ontheir respective grills so that the grill, shutter controls, andoperating mechanisms, may be installed as a unit in the intake andexhaust openings.

It is also evident from the above description and from the drawings thatby suitable control of the intake and exhaust shutters that the amountand direction of the flow of air into the passenger compartment for thevarious intake openings may be efiectively controlled and that theamount of air exhausted from the diiferent portions of the passengercompartment may be controlled as desired. By suitably setting thecontrol mechanism as desired, the passengers may easily and effectivelycontrol the ventilation of the passenger compartment.

In order to finish the interior appearance of the vehicle, head lining Ihaving openings therethrough corresponding to the intake and exhaustopenings into the passenger compartment is fixed in place within thepassenger compartment in the usual manner.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the inventiondescribed without departing from the spirit and substance of the broadinvention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for ventilating the interior of a closed vehicle having thefront windshield comprising means forming intake and exhaust openings inthe roof of said vehicle above said windshield, means forming a firstchamber in communication with said exhaust openings, said first chamberextending longitudinally of the roof of said vehicle .and vhavingspacedopenings comirida nicating with the interior of said body adjacent thefront and rear portions thereof, and means forming a second chamber incommunication with said intake openings, said second chamber having afront portion adjacent said windshield and hav ing side portionsextending longitudinally of said vehicle body, each of said sideportions having openings communicatingwith the interior of, said vehiclebody, and means forming a conduit communicating with said front portionand extending to a position immediately behind and above said windshieldand having an opening therethrough adjacent said windshield fordirecting air there' against.

2. Apparatus for ventilating the interior of a closed vehicle bodyhaving a windshield comprising means forming intake openings in the roofof said vehicle immediately above said windshield, means forming achamber in communication with said intake openings, said chamber havinga front portion and having side portions extendinglom gitudinally ofsaid vehicle body, each of said side portions having openingscommunicating with the interior of said vehicle body, said second namedmeans havingan opening therethrough in'the front portion of saidchamber, a'baflle within said front portion forwardly of said last namedopening, means forming a conduit communicating with the front portion ofsaid chamber through said last named opening, said conduit extendingforwardly and having an opening therethrough immediately above andbehind said windshield,.and means controlling the direction and flow ofair through said last named opening against said windshield.

Apparatus for ventilating the interior of a closed vehicle body havingan outer roof panel and a windshield comprising meansiorming injectoropenings through said outer panel immediately above and transversely ofsaid windshield, means forming transverse exhaust openings in the outerroof panel adjacent the front thereof, a unitary pan member extendinglongitudinally of said roof substantially co-extensive with the upperportionoi said roof and co-extensive with the middle portion of saidroof and having upstanding front, side, and rear walls cooperating withthe outer roof panel to form a first chamber in communication with saidexhaust openings, said pan member having spaced openings therethroughcommunicating with the interior of said body adjacent the front and rearportions there of, and a unitary sheet metal member having a transversefront portion adjacent said injector openings and having side portionsextending longitudinally of said vehicle and cooperatingwith the sideportions of said roof panel to form a second chamber in communicationwith said intake openings, said side portions having openingstherethrough communicating with the interior .of said vehicle body. v

4. Apparatus for ventilating the interiorof a closed vehicle body havingan outer roof panel and a windshield comprising means forming injectoropenings through said outer roof panel immediately above andtransversely of said windshield, means forming transverse openings inthe outer roof panel adjacent the ,front thereof, a unitary pan memberextending longitudinallyof said roof substantially.'co-extensive withthe middle portion of said roof and having upstanding front, side, and'rear walls cooperating with the outer roof panel to form afirst-chamberdn communication withsaid exhaust openings, vsaid panmember having spacedo-penings therethrough communicating with theinterior of said body, a unitary sheet metal member having a transversefront portion adjacent said injector openings and having side portionsextending longitudinally of said vehicle and cooperating with the sideportions of said roof panel and said pan member to form a second chamberin communication with said injector openings, said side portions of saidunitary sheet metal member having openings therethrough communicatingwith the interior of said vehicle body.

5. Apparatus for ventilating the interior of a closed vehicle bodyhaving an outer roof panel and a Windshield comprising means forminginjector openings through said outer roof panel immediately above andtransversely of said windshield, means forming transverse ejectoropenings in the outer roof panel adjacent the front thereof, a unitarypan member extending longitudinally of said roof substantiallyco-extensive with the middle portion of said roof and having upstandingfront, side, and rear walls cooperating with the outer roof panel toform a first chamber in communication with said ejector openings, saidpan member having openings therethrough communicating with the interiorof said body, a unitary sheet metal member having a transverse frontportion adjacent said injector openings and having side portionsextending longitudinally of said vehicle and cooperating with the sideportions of said roof panel to form a second chamber in communication 7in the outer roof panel adjacent the front thereof,

a unitary pan member extending longitudinally of said roof substantiallyco-extensive with the middle portion of said roof and having upstandingfront, side, and rear Walls cooperating with the outer roof panel toform a first chamber in communication with said exhaust openings, saidpan member having openings therethrough communieating with the interiorof said body, a unitary sheet metal member having a transverse frontportion adjacent said injector openings and having side portionsextending longitudinally of said vehicle and cooperating with the sideportions of said roof panel to form a second chamber in communicationwith said injector openings, said side portions having openingstherethrough in a plane below the openings in the pan member directedinwardly and downwardly, and means to control the flow of air throughthe openings in the pan member and the unitary sheet metal member.

